I drove down to Long Island yesterday - to prepare for the LIDCA Show in Hauppauge tomorrow. I left 4 inches of new snow and single digits with a chock-full Forester and found a clear-skied Winter day and dry ground here in Suffolk County. Craig Kessler and I discharged numerous last-minute tasks for the Show, re-installed the stern seat in his CASSIOPEIA - and helped a grad student band over 80 Broadbill on Great South Bay. Actually, they were mostly Lessers - so I suppose I should call them Bluebill.... We worked 'til well after dark and were rewarded with a glimpse of a Short-eared Owl's moth-like flight about 20 yards behind us. Photos (trapping) to follow in a separate post when I have time.

As for my "work bench" - I spent most of February preparing exhibits for tomorrow's Show. But, I did find the time to re-paint these two balsa Wildfowlers for a friend. I had first re-painted them in the early 1980s - and the pair is now destined to end their days rigged on a shelf.....

This pair came from The Bench of George Williams Himself - many years ago. They had seen a fair bit of service and called out for some fresh plumage. So, here is what G. Williams Mallids look like with a Sanford paint job (apologies to George!):

George: I did not re-paint the bottoms - and so your signature remains intact. I'd like to photograph both pairs on Great South Bay if I can find the time before delivering them tomorrow.

Finished the last four heads Wednesday. Roughed this guy out yesterday, but I was too tired to post after removing snow from the downwind roof sections on our house yesterday for four hours and clearing it off the driveway via the snowblower.

Drake came out pretty darn close., and you certainly showed your flair on the hen. Curious, what is the date on the bottom? I ask because I would like to know how long the paint held up. Hopefully, they had plenty of service, and did their job well. YA DONE GOOD, fella!!! Have a blast this weekend. Still mucking about a bit in the dungeon, getting some stuff put together for Runamuck's annual demo in Ohio next weekend. Hey, don't forget to activate your camera at the ibew hall and get some shots of the Brant!! george@runamuckdecoys.com

Pintail deadmount now complete (...or at least work has been finally stopped at an interesting place ). Spatter painted full-sized drake; remarqued handmade powder horn; shooters' bag made from an old leather jacket rescued from the Goodwill bin; and working hand turned pintail whistle. Everything mounted on an antique mirror stand that was restored & refinished.

Chuck, I expect to be given full "master seamstress" status for my work on whipping up that leather "possibles" bag.

MLBob

"Art is like an ill-trained Labrador retriever that drags you out into traffic." (Annie Dillard)

....Here's to Joe Wooster, who made me realize that the useful could and should be beautiful; and who firmly believed that decoy carvers were the last free men in America.

Now you need a muzzle loader side by side, to hang on hooks across the bottom. Didn't you have one as a kid? (and no, I don't have one to donate ) Take care, Huntindave McCann SHELL ROCK IA “As sailors grow older, the wiser ones move to smaller boats.” —Thomas Firth Jones, Multihull Voyaging

You likely could get a non-functioning hammer gun "high patina" SXS relatively cheap to mount across the base. per Dave's suggestion.

I wish Gaynor "Bud" Nash was still alive, I could likely track one down through him. His dad had a couple hundred gun percussion arms collection with a lot of it circa 1850-1870s pieces. "Bud' used to hunt rabbits and winter season grouse out in the grape vineyards and woodlots west of Kalamazoo every weekend-actually, about two blocks from where my niece and her family now live- with us, shooting a Damascus barreled side-by-side and Italian shotshells.

Nice lines on those Turkeys. Just curious, at what point do you go from the "flat bottom" rough carving to the full body profile? It appears you added more material? Wouldn't mind seeing some photos of the steps involved, if you have some handy. Take care, Huntindave McCann SHELL ROCK IA “As sailors grow older, the wiser ones move to smaller boats.” —Thomas Firth Jones, Multihull Voyaging

Dave, yeah I add a second piece. These were both taken from a large piece of juniper. This is the bottom portion. Makes it easier to attach to the base when they are flat/ jointed already. This bottom/ belly looks like an alien mask to me.

Frank, Thanks, What wall thickness (generally speaking, obviously varies quite a bit) are you shooting for? What's average weight? Does one need a youngster along as a Sherpa? By the time I gear up with a Double Bull enclosed blind, calls, shells (only need one, right), chair, gun and four to six foam decoys, I'm not sure I can add a bird to my load on the way out. Take care, Huntindave McCann SHELL ROCK IA “As sailors grow older, the wiser ones move to smaller boats.” —Thomas Firth Jones, Multihull Voyaging

Rick, Thanks.... I had a roadkilled specimen and lots of photos. I recently have been enjoying the contrast of a bit of realism with the carving of the heads... that said they are in reality to thin, and so the head and neck are over sized.i like combining that with a looser paint job, so I?ll stay away from the powders. Bob, the decoy once glued and painted is about 4 lbs. and the wall thickness aside from the rump and head areas is close to 3/8?. Frank